Should the Ford Mustang use 92 or 95 octane gasoline?
1 Answers
According to the official vehicle manual recommendation, the Ford Mustang should use 92 octane gasoline. In addition to checking the appropriate gasoline grade in the vehicle manual, Ford Mustang owners can also find this information on the fuel tank cap, which will be clearly marked. Generally, the gasoline grade can also be determined based on the engine's compression ratio. Vehicles with an engine compression ratio between 8.6-9.9 should use 92 octane gasoline, while those with a compression ratio between 10.0-11.5 should use 95 octane gasoline. However, with the application of new technologies, the compression ratio alone cannot determine the appropriate gasoline grade. High compression ratio engines can still be tuned to use lower octane gasoline because other factors, such as ignition timing, turbocharging technology, and Atkinson cycle technology, also play a role. Generally, the higher the gasoline octane number, the higher the octane value and the better the anti-knock performance. 92 octane gasoline contains 92% isooctane and 8% n-heptane, while 95 octane gasoline contains 95% isooctane and 5% n-heptane. If the Ford Mustang occasionally uses the wrong gasoline grade, simply switch back to the correct grade after the current tank is used up. However, long-term use of the wrong gasoline grade can have the following effects: For vehicles recommended to use lower octane gasoline, using a higher octane grade will not cause damage, but the increase in octane value can alter the fuel's ignition point, leading to delayed combustion in the engine. This results in reduced engine power and thermal efficiency, with the practical effect being poorer performance. For vehicles recommended to use higher octane gasoline, using a lower octane grade can cause engine knocking. Because the octane value is much lower, the reduced ignition point may cause the gasoline to ignite prematurely during the compression stroke. If combustion occurs before the spark plug fires, resistance will arise during the upward stroke. This resistance makes the engine run very unstably. Mild knocking may only increase noise without significant engine damage, but noticeable knocking indicates severe engine conditions. The vibrations not only affect driving stability but can also cause abnormal wear on pistons and cylinders, and in severe cases, cylinder scoring.